Christophe Berra’s future is again the subject of speculation this morning with claims he could return to his former club Hearts as part of a swap deal with Scotland international right-back Callum Paterson, who is currently sidelined with a long-term injury, moving in the opposite direction.
According to the Scottish Sun Berra is "desperate” to move on from Town and rejoin his hometown club where he started his career.
Town are said to be willing to allow him to return to Tynecastle if Paterson were to move in the opposite direction, despite the 22-year-old, whose contract is up in the summer, being out for 10 months having undergone surgery on cruciate ligament injury last week.
Prior to suffering the injury at the end of December, Paterson had turned down new terms with Hearts and was keen on a move to England with West Ham reportedly set to make a move for him in January.
Born in London but brought up near Edinburgh, Paterson, who has won five full Scotland caps in addition to appearances at U18, U19 and U21 levels, came through the youth system at Tynecastle and made his senior debut as a 17-year-old.
It’s not the first time there have been reports that Berra could move back to Hearts during the January transfer window.
Town manager Mick McCarthy recently dismissed a claim that the Blues were in talks to settle the final six months of Berra’s contract to allow him to return to the SPL side.
"That is just ridiculous,” McCarthy said, speaking 10 days ago. "Have you seen how many players we’ve had recently, the squad and the substitutes we’ve had? And I would be settling up Christophe Berra’s contract, who has played every single game? I don’t think so.
"How ridiculous that rumour is. There are rumours that might be close to the truth, but that’s as far away from the truth as you can get. It’s nuts.”
He added: "We’ve got an option on him to sign him [for a further year], he’s our player for the next 18 months if that’s what we want to do.
"I can’t see any reason why I wouldn’t want to keep Christophe Berra, he’s been different class, he’s arguably been our best defender for the last four years.
"He’s certainly been one of the top ones and has consistently played. He’s staying here as far as I’m concerned.”
Town are currently short of central defenders with Adam Webster out for the season with an ankle injury and Tommy Smith not expected to return to match action until mid-February after back surgery, although he returned to full training earlier in the week.
However, former Newcastle central defender Steven Taylor, 31, has been training with the club this week with a view to winning a contract having left MLS side the Portland Timbers in December.
Despite McCarthy having dismissed the previous link, Berra has said he intends to return to Scotland at some stage.
Speaking in September, he said: "I’ve had a great time down here and as I’ve said before my daughter is four and at some point I’d want to go back home.
"That’s obvious — all my family and friends are there — but at the moment I’m enjoying my football. Ipswich have been good to me and hopefully I can repay them.”